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B♭ neapolitan minor scale on bass guitar
B♭ neapolitan minor uses B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A. Box 1 keeps the root on string 3, fret 1 and string 1, fret 3.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the B♭ neapolitan minor scale on bass?
B♭ neapolitan minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F on the E string at fret 1 up to C♭ on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 2 | F, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 4 | A, B♭, C♭ |
Box 2 · frets 6–9
B♭ neapolitan minor in box 2 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 6 and the D string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 8, 9 | A, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 9–12
B♭ neapolitan minor in box 3 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 8 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the E string at fret 9 up to G♭ on the G string at fret 11. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 12 | G♭, A |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 11 | F, G♭ |
Box 4 · frets 11–14
B♭ neapolitan minor in box 4 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to A on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13, 14 | A, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 14 | G♭, A |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree of B♭ harmonic minor from C to C♭. The scale contains a tritone and a leading tone. Its step pattern is H, W, W, W, H, 1½, H.
When to use it
B♭ neapolitan minor fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. Its ♭2 and ♭6 create a dark, tense colour for metal and neoclassical lines.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 3, fret 1, covering frets 1–4 and setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in the B♭ neapolitan minor scale?
B♭ neapolitan minor contains B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, and A. The scale has a minor 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, augmented 5th, and major 7th. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ neapolitan minor fit?
B♭ neapolitan minor fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. The ♭2 and ♭6 add tension over these chords.
How does B♭ neapolitan minor differ from B♭ harmonic minor?
B♭ neapolitan minor lowers the second degree from C to C♭. The rest of the scale matches B♭ harmonic minor.